Back Again

The kids were back on the train again, and Molly was with them for the first time. She was excited to be starting her journey at Hogwarts and was even more excited to be able to learn so much. Her father, Percy, was distraught about sending his only child away, but Ginny had assured him many times that she would have a large group of people takes care of her. She would make 15 people in their group of tight-knit friends. 

Just as Ara had promised, she had seen James at Diagon Alley a couple of days after their date, and they had gone to all the stores together. It wasn't the best afternoon, though, because many of their classmates and girls from other years were constantly coming up to James even if Ara was standing right there holding his hand. Ara had found the entire thing irritating, and they had even been in a small argument about it. She was jealous, and she didn't care if it was dumb or not. She hated how they all just stood there and talked to him like she was invisible. 

Ara was in better spirits on the train. She was holding onto James's hand tightly and talking animatedly with Mary about OWLs. She seemed to be the only one that was excited about taking them and James smiled to himself, happy that she was in a better mood today. Perhaps that was the end of it. 

"Those are not until the end of the term. Could you please drop it," Hugo looked over from the other side of the compartment? Ara frowned. Those two never really got along and seemed to be at odds with one another more than normal. James gritted his teeth; he knew this was going to be bad. 

"I'm sorry I didn't think to do well on an exam was so irritating." Ara spat back. 

"Well, it is when we haven't even arrived at school yet. All you do is talk about exams and schoolwork. I honestly don't know how James stands it." Hugo looked angrier than normal, and his sisters started whispering at him in hushed tones. 

Ara didn't have anything to say back at that. Her eyes welled up, and she looked at James, horrified that he hadn't said anything in her defense. Hyperion and Scorp were quick to join in with the confused look that occupied their sister's face. Even his little sister looked as if she was waiting for him to back up Ara. 

"Hugo," James got up and walked over to where he was sitting. They whispered for a while, and then James came back over. 

No one said anything for a while. Finally, Milly and Margret spoke up. 

"He's just upset because," Milly started.

"Um...Well, basically, our parents are splitting up." Margret finished the uncomfortable sentence. 

"He didn't mean to take all his anger out on you, Ara. He's really sorry." Milly picked up again. 

"They are bonded for life; they cannot split up. Marriage in the wizarding world is for life." Lysander never looked up from his book saying this, but then his eyes grew wide. That was probably not the best thing to say. 

"Well, they just aren't going to be living together anymore. They figured the three of us were old enough to handle it." Hugo was crying. It was a strange sight for everyone in the compartment. 

"They had a meeting with Hermione about it. Apparently, they haven't been happy for a long time, and since it was part of the law, Hermione figured that living apart would be acceptable. They cannot marry anyone else. Obviously." Milly started to cry, too, as Margret finished the explanation. 

Ara got up from her seat and hugged the two girls tight. She didn't know what she would do if her parents split up. 

"I'm so sorry, guys," Mary hugged Hugo and then the twins as well.

"Is there anything we can do?" Lily asked. 

"No," Hugo said in a hushed tone before wiping his eyes and turning to look out the window. The twins smiled at Lily and shook their heads no. They were trying to be brave about the whole situation because Hugo was not taking it well. 

Ara sat back down next to James and grabbed his hand. All she wanted to do right now was burst into tears. She felt so horrible for them, but she figured if they weren't crying about it, she shouldn't. 

"You know he didn't mean any of that, right?" James looked at Ara intently. 

"He definitely meant it. He just wished he would have never said it. I'm sure he's thought it before. How else would it have come out so easily." Ara put her head in her hands and took some deep breaths. She didn't want to start the term like this, but at this point, she figured this was going to be a horrible term. 

James tried to talk to Hugo about everything that had happened at the sorting ceremony, but he was not responding to anyone. James didn't know what to do and figured if it got any worse, he would have to either tell Professor Longbottom or owl his parents for advice. He didn't really want to do either, fearing that it would make the situation worse. He didn't even know if his parents knew. 

Ara watched James the whole time trying to talk to Hugo, and she was growing increasingly irritated. Just because they didn't get along didn't mean that he had to insult her like that. 

"Weasley, Molly," McGonagall called. 

Molly sat up perfectly straight on the stool as the hat was placed on her head. 

"RAVENCLAW!" It called. Molly had a huge grin on her face as she made her way over to the table. That is where she had wanted to be placed after all. 

"Bloody hell, the tally of Ravenclaws has now caught up to us." Scorpius threw his hands up in frustration. Ara didn't know why it mattered, but she scoffed to make her brother feel better and then went back to watching the Gryffindor table. 

Since Molly had been sorted, James had been surrounded by a bunch of girls. All of which he was talking to. Ara felt the anger build up inside of her, and she turned to her brother with hot tears in her eyes. 

"Why doesn't Hyperion stop them from talking to him?"

"What?" Scorpius looked over at where Ara was looking and sighed. He had talked to James about this before they let Diagon Alley and he was slightly upset that this was still bothering her so much.

"Ara, James really likes you. Nothing is going to happen."

"Why doesn't he understand I hate it so much."

"He does; he wishes it didn't. Those girls don't matter. Girls are going to talk to him for his entire life. You are not going to be able to stop that." 

"Of course, I can. We are back at school. I can use magic now."

Scorpius looked at his sister and frowned. "Ara," He rarely took any kind of tone with her, but it was called for. Ara jumped at the tone of her brother's voice. It was like her father was scolding her. "You are going to get yourself into trouble."

"Fine." 

"Fine, you'll stop and think, or fine, you don't care?"

"Which one is going to make you worry less?" 

"Ara," Scorpius needed Hyperion to talk reason into her at this point.

"Scorpius, he's my boyfriend, and everyone in this school knows it. Yet all of those girls are over there throwing themselves at him. He's not doing a bloody thing about it."

"Nothing is going to happen. James will tell you that. I told you that. Everyone knows he only likes you. Nothing is going to happen."

Ara got up and made her way out of the Great Hall. She was no longer hungry. She just wanted to be alone. All of this was so confusing, and she didn't know why, but she was angriest with James. She knew she shouldn't be, but she was. 

James was trying to get all of these girls that had just swarmed his spot to go away, but they were not listening to him. Hyperion was trying to help him out, but they were plain ignoring him. Mary was just frowning at both boys, and every once and a while, she would look over at Ara, who looked as if she was either going to burst into tears or blow up the whole hall. 

"James," Mary had fought her way over the girls and had to scream practically at him.

"Yes, Mary?"

"Ara is leaving," Mary pointed at his girlfriend, who had just got up and was leaving the great hall. He nodded at her and got up as well. The girls started to frown, but he was quick to walk away from them. 

"Ara!" James was running down the halls, trying to find her. He slowed down when he reached one of the staircases. She was sitting on the bottom step, crying. 

"Go away," She said in a whisper, and it broke James's heart hearing her say that to him.

"Ara, it's me." James sat down next to her and tried to hold her hand, but she scooted away. 

"James, I do not want to talk to you right now." 

"Ara, what did I do?"

"You don't care about how any of that makes me feel. You don't understand, and I cannot take it anymore."

James didn't understand what that meant. He just sat there with tears coming to his eyes.